Energy companies RWE and Essent have been given the green light to continue building a new coal-fired power station in Groningen, even though a crucial licence has been withdrawn, the Council of State or supreme court said on Friday.

Last week, the same court withdrew the permit for the plant which relates to the protection of nature, saying Essent had not done proper research into the likely effect of the power plant on the local flora and fauna.
Environmental groups Greenpeace and Natuur & Milieu went back to court demanding the provincial authority halt the building because the permit had been withdrawn. Groningen province said it would not stop the building because it expected the permit situation to be quickly sorted out.
In its ruling on Friday, the Council of State said the environmental groups had not given the province enough time to take a proper decision. Three days is not a reasonable period, the court said.
Groningen province plans to finalise a new permit giving RWE and Essent the right to continue building parts of the power plant which are not affected by the environmental licence by September 13.